Community Connections – January 2014
Transcript of Community Connections – January 2014
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OSCA's bi-monthly update to our stakeholders View this email in your browser
January 31, 2014
In this issue:
Transition update from the Executive DirectorCatching up with the new focus areasCheck out the new websiteRead some news from our communities
From the Executive DirectorWelcome to our inaugural Oil Sands Community Alliance(OSCA) newsletter.
If you’re not familiar with our name or logo we werepreviously called the Oil Sands Developers Group. Sowhy the new name? Well, our organization hasundergone some changes - including a new mandatethat is focussed exclusively on the socio-economicissues.
Our organization represents oil sands companies in theregion. This includes the companies which operateexisting or planned mines, the growing in-situ operationsfurther south in the region, as well as companies withlease holdings seeking regulatory approval.
With more than $82 billion in annual investment, morethan 40 projects and thousands of workers in the regionin the region at any given time, it is important the oilsands industry work together with our local stakeholders
RegionalSpotlight Province AddressGrowth issues inFort McMurrayResidents of Fort McMurraywill see more landdevelopment and roadimprovements as part ofland exchange agreementbetween the province andmunicipality. Learn moreabout the land exchangeagreement.
Alberta EnergyCorridor ReleaseQuarterly NewsletterHave a read and catch upwith the AEC and its work.
Nominations nowopen!Nominations are now openfor the 2014 Heart of WoodBuffalo Leadership Awards.
Subscribe Share Past Issues Translate
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to manage the impacts of resource development and
maximizing the benefits.
And while the industry is driven by business principles,
the companies that operate in the region also
understand the value of converting the abundant natural
resources into local financial resources which in turn
supports the development of social programming,
infrastructure and employment. Beyond the financial
contributions to the local economy our industry also
understands the importance of building communities
which have a high quality of life – including education,
recreation and cultural opportunities.
As an organization our focus going forward is on
identifying the issues and solutions for a number of key
socio-economic issues that are important to the future
success of our communities and our industry. The four
key areas for OSCA are:
Workforce – how to attract and retain the labour
force we need to extract this resource
Community well-being – providing the quality of
life in our communities to ensure employees in the
industry and their families choose to live in the
region not just work there. This includes providing
an adequate supply of housing in the market as
well as affordable housing.
Aboriginal – how do we ensure our local aboriginal
population participate in the economic opportunity
through by enhancing skills and business capacity
as well as support community well-being.
Infrastructure – providing the infrastructure to
support the movement of products and people into
the region as well the utilities and services to
sustain the growth of our economy and our
communities.
The industry goal of responsible development is
anchored by a shared set of mutual benefit goals with
local communities including creating vibrant, diverse,
inclusive, welcoming, resilient and safe communities.
This focus reflects the fact that our communities in the
region will only fully realize their potential if the industry
reaches its potential and vice-versa. It reminds me of a
saying… ”A rising tide floats all boats but we must make
sure the littlest vessels are not swamped.”
Nominate someone who you
think is the Heart of Wood
Buffalo and recognize their
achievements, dedication
and passion for their
community. Nomination
deadline is February 7th,
2014. Read more here.
Leading the North
conference
Be part of the conversation
on the development of
Alberta’s energy resources
and diverse economy,
Register for Leading the
North conference.
Two new schools
for Fort McMurray
These school projects are
two of six new Alberta
schools being announced
this December. Together,
the new schools will provide
4,200 new student
spaces. Read more.
New Pipeline
Training Centre a
first in Canada
Pipeline training centre will
help with Northern Gateway
expansion plans. Read
more.
Groundbreaking oil
and gas training
technology
Athabasca University has
partnered with Qatar
University to develop
groundbreaking oil and gas
training technology. Read
more.
YMM Hits Record
Passenger Numbers
Fort McMurray Airport
reached new heights as
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It has been a busy few months as the Oil SandsCommunity Alliance moves from transition to intoimplementation. Most of our stakeholders if not all havebeen informed of our transition into the OSCA and wecontinue our work under the re-focused socio-economicmandate. Engagement from our industry partners isramping up as our three active focus areas – aboriginal,community well-being and infrastructure - are attractingindustry members who have already rolled up theirsleeves and have started meeting and getting to work,setting priorities. Our continued success depends on thecommitment and participation of our industry members.We are confident you will continue to support the OSCAto ensure its success in meeting industry’s renewedfocus on collaboration in proactively responding tochanges in the communities where we operate. To learnmore please visit our website at www.oscaalberta.ca.
If you have any questions or comments about ourmandate or work with stakeholders in the region, pleasedo not hesitate to contact us.
I look forward to working with many of you as we pursueinnovative solutions that build thriving communitiesbased on shared values and enable the responsiblegrowth of Canada’s oil sands.
Lee FunkeInterim Executive Director
passenger numbers for 2013soared to nearly 1.2 millionpassengers. Read more.
Global 100 Most
Sustainable
CorporationsCongratulations to OSCAmembers Cenovus, Statoil,Shell and Suncor forrecognition on the Global100 Most SustainableCorporations. Read more.
A Year in ReviewHave a look back on the topstories in Lac La Biche,from the first and secondhalf of 2013. RMWB Top News Looking back on 2013's topnews stories in the RMWB.
New OSCA website up and running
As the Oil Sands Community Alliance continues to settle into its new role, we wanted tolet you know that our new website, oscaalberta.ca, is live. A snapshot of our homepage isoffered below.
Our new portal showcases our four focus areas, noteworthy events from membercompanies and community stakeholders as well as a link to Twitter. Numerous links are
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also provided for visitors to our site to get more information about key organizations and
programs in the region that support the people who work in the industry and the
communities.
We invite you to visit our new site and check back frequently for more information about
the OSCA’s activities.
Aboriginal Focus Area
Building on successful relationships within the Wood Buffalo and Lac La Biche Aboriginal
companies, who performed over $1.8 billion in contract work with OSCA member
companies in 2012, the Aboriginal Focus Area strives to incorporate best practices and
to collaborate in maximizing opportunities for aboriginal participation in economic
development in Alberta’s oil sands. The Aboriginal Focus Area has completed a
framework for an education and employment environmental scan that they are
undertaking in 2014 to understand current programs, services, existing needs and gaps.
This work will help define the industry’s strategic priorities in the aboriginal education and
skills development space. An aboriginal business development task group will be
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established in early 2014 to focus on identifying and building synergistic partners with
aboriginal business organizations and associations to enhance aboriginal business
capacity, skills and knowledge.
For more information on this focus area please contact Brandi Gartner,
Community Well-being
OSCA members are dedicated to community well-being and they continue to support
local community groups and social profit organizations. Our members made corporate
donations of over $10 million in 2012 to groups and organizations in the Wood Buffalo
and Lac La Biche regions. Additionally, our members contributed over $8 million in 2012
to Aboriginal communities in the Wood Buffalo and Lac La Biche regions for school and
youth programs, celebrations, cultural events, literacy, community projects and other
programs. The Community Well-Being Focus Area is actively working with industry
members to identify priorities that enhance their support and community involvement
within the oil sands region. Currently, a health task group is discussing community-
specific public determinants of health and identifying opportunities, resources and
programs that will enhance community and employee health. Early in 2014, we will be
developing a task group to work with community partners in identifying a common
community sustainable indicators strategy that will provide a basis for a data-oriented
approach to regional planning, priority setting and strategies.
For more information on this focus area please contact Brandi Gartner,
Infrastructure
A new OSCA Infrastructure Focus Area committee has been established and is
dedicating its attention to four priority working areas. Two of these, Ground
Transportation and Aviation, have task groups already actively engaged in initiatives to
ensure the region has appropriate infrastructure in place to improve public safety,
increase productivity, promote sustainability and ensure the competitiveness of Alberta’s
oil sands industry. These include efforts to prioritize and bring about the timely
completion of key transportation infrastructure projects, identify quick wins for reducing
congestion and improving safety, and ensure that the burgeoning aviation sector
develops in an efficient and coordinated manner. The groundwork is also being laid for
the establishment of task groups to promote collaboration in the areas of Camps and
Power & Co-Generation, beginning in early 2014. The OSCA continues to pursue
projects with its partners including the Government of Alberta that address traffic
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congestion issues. We’re pleased to have participated in local infrastructure projects thathave now been completed to improve the traffic network. The re-furbished GrantMacEwan Bridge opened even months ahead of schedule this year meaning there arenow three bridges crossing the Athabasca River as a single network. The AthabascaBridge, completed in October 2011, has Alberta’s largest bridge deck, and theSteinhauer Bridge, completed in early 2013, was widened and the deck was completelyrebuilt. The completion of this work highlights industry’s continuing efforts in increase thesafe transport of people and goods in our area.
For more information on this focus area, please contact Marvin Schneider,[email protected].
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Syncrude Canada Ltd. @SyncrudeCanadaSyncrude turns 50 this year! To celebrate we'll be tweetingachievements/milestones/photos each week using #Syncrude50. #ymm #oilsands
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